Access to Information and Farmer's Market Choice: The Case of Potato in Highland Bolivia

Abstract

Food value chains consist of food producers, processors, third-party certifiers, distributors, and retailers working together to maximize the social and financial return on investment for all participants in the supply chain, including consumers. This paper presents a case study of Corbin Hill Road Farm Share, a newly created hybrid food value chain that engages nonprofit strategic partners to provide locally grown and affordable produce to low-income residents of New York City's South Bronx while also enabling Farm Share members to become equity owners of the farm over time. The case study shows that the involvement of community-based nonprofits is key to creating a food production and distribution system that engages a wide range of stakeholders, fosters shared governance and transparency, empowers consumers, and benefits regional farmers.

Urban and Peri-urban Milk Market Channel Choice Using Multivariate Probit Approach: Evidence from Arsi Highland of Ethiopia

“…It can also provide needed nutritional requirements to meet increasing food security (USAID/Land O'Lakes, 2010). The Increasing the participation of smallholder farmers' in agricultural markets is dynamically linked to improving food security and reducing poverty in rural areas (Amaya & Alwang, 2011;Lie, Rich, van der Hoek, & Dizyee, 2018). The Ethiopian milk marketing system is not well developed, still inefficient and underperforming, which affect the smallholder milk producers, as a result, milk production systems are dominated by the informal marketing system and limited access to the market (Consult, 2008).…”

Women rule: potato markets, cellular phones and access to information in the Bolivian highlands

“…Bolivia and Peru form the origin and center of potato domestication, and household food security in the region depends on the potato. Per capita potato consumption in Bolivia averages between 80 and 140 kg/year and as much as 50% of farm household incomes come from potatoes (Amaya, 2009). Throughout the Andes, women are heavily engaged in agricultural work (Duryea et al, 2002; Grynspan, 1999).…”

“…In rural Bolivia, it is estimated that more than 80% of female adults participate in agricultural‐related activities (Alemán, 2002; INE, 2000). Women and men work together producing potatoes; men devote their efforts to activities requiring more physical effort such as soil preparation, but many tasks are shared (Amaya, 2009).…”

“…Between 20% and 50% of crop output is sold and income depends on agricultural sales, mainly potatoes. Men and women engage in agricultural production and marketing, but gender roles are differentiated (Amaya, 2009).…”

“…Recent technological innovations include radio programs that transmit market information in Quechua and widely available cellular phones. Many farmers and almost all potato wholesalers and retailers now use mobile phones to coordinate sales (Amaya, 2009). However, there are deficiencies in access to information; some areas receive better cellular signals than others.…”